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(No Model.) l

W. COLLENDER.

, POCKET FOR BILLIARD TABLES.

No. 260,845. i Pa tented July 11,1882.

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UNITED A STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HUGH W. OOLLENDER, OF NEW YOBK, N. Y.

POCKET FOR BlLLlARD-TABLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 260,845, dated July 11, 1882,

Application filed March 28, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, HUGH W.OOLLENDER, of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pockets forBilliard-Tables; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this application.

My invention relates to a novel construction of the pockets of billiard-tables, and has forits main object to render this part of a" billiardtable more durable in itself and less destructive of the balls in the necessary concussive action of. the latter against the irons of the pocket. l

Previous to my invention it has been custom ary to form the bag-like or receptacle portions of billiard-table pockets of a worsted net-work, and to clothe or cover the curved portion. of the pocket-iron with leather, although it has been suggested to make the pockets ofleather, 800., and to have the entire pocket iron or holder composed of rubber and a metallic core. It is necessary, of course, to have the receptacle made of somesuch material in some such form or condition as will tend to prevent the rebounding orjumping out ofthe pocket ofa ball tbrciblypocketed, and to also have the inner curved part of the pocket-iron, which has to re ceive the momentum of a balldriven rapidly into the pocket, covered with a jacket of some such material to deaden the noise and save the ball from the destruction which would soon occur to itin being frequently shot forcibly against any metallic or other harder fender or stopping surface. But practice and experience have shown that the pocket portions of the table as heretofore made are very perishable under the usage to which the parts must inevitably be subject, for not only 7 does the pounding or frequent concussive action of the balls on the curved fender-like or deflector part of the pocket-iron soon cut and wear 011' the leather cover ing, but the forcible entry of the deflected balls into the net-like bags or receptacles soon stretches, breaks, and wears them out of a proper condition. 1

I have never seen in the market nor known table having either a pocket-ironmadethroughout its length of rubber and a metal core or a billiard-table having a pocket made of a piece of perforated leather or other cloth; nor have I ever seen a billiard-table pocket-holder made wholly of hard rubber but from my practical knowledge I should conclude that no such pocket or pocket-holder would be a very useful or desirable thing in practice.

I propose to overcome in a great measure the defects orobjections above mentioned, and at ber covering or jacket (which, being thicker and more elastic than leather, will last longer, be easier on the balls, and make the pocket more noiseless, and which also may be more readily and better secured about the iron by reason of the factthat it may be molded to fit to the shape ofthe curved iron fender and may be sprung over and onto it) and a pocketreceptacle or bag-like device composed of reticulated or open-work rubber or other analogous compound, (which may be cheaply manufaclured, may be easily but securely united at its upper perimeter to the jacket or cover of the pocket-iron, and mayhave the usual bottom ring of harder rubber or other material secured to it in any suitable manner.)

To enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will now proceed to more fully describe it, referring by letters to the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is an elevation of a billiard-tablepooket fixture made according to myinvention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section at the line w w of In appearance my improved pocket-fixture may nearly or quite resemble the old-fashioned kind of pockets; but the curved or fender part of the iron is covered with or enveloped by a heavy jacket, I), of rubber or other vulcanizable gum, which may be molded and vulcanized in the proper shape, and so that after having been sprung over and onto the iron its pendent edges or portions 1) (see Fig. 2) may be secured together by a suitable rubber cement, as shown.

The usual apron, d, of leather,may be applied to the upper inner part of the pocket, to guide the deflected ball from the pocket-iron into the pocket without unnecessarily straining the network of the bag or receptacle; or, in lieu of such finishing leather apron, an apron may be formed by having the inner portion of the rubber iron-covering jacket made to depend, as seen in the modified form of jacket shown at Fig. 3.

The bag B is made of reticulated rubber of the proper dimensions and contour, and may have the plain or band-like upper part, 0, either cemented to the inner one of the plies b of thejacket b, orotherwise fastened; or, iffound practicable and expedient, the rubber bag B may be either made integral with the rubber jacket I) b or be united thereto in the course of manufacture, before use, by the table-manufacturer.

If desired, the usual fringe,f, may he applied to finish up the exterior of the pocket; or the upper portion of the rubber material of the bag may be made solid or cloth-like and ornamented in any of the known modes of beautifying rubber-cloth surfaces.

It will be seen that a covering for the iron made and applied in the described manner can not only be made cheaply and be more easily and securely attached to the iron,but will fit to it snugly and perfectly, will be more durable and more desirable in every sense than a cover of leather (or any other material) stretched over and sewed on to the pocket-iron, as heretofore done, while at the same time the straight end portions of the pocket-iron are left with the exposed metallic surface to be let into the cushion-rail and ornamented just as usual in the present manufacture of tables.

A bag or reticule, B, manufactured from rubber will be more durable than one of the usual textile material. It can be more easily secured in place, can be ornamented, if desired, and will keep its shape and original appearance longer than bags such as heretofore used for billiard-table pockets, while at the same time it will possess all the requisite elasticity to avoid undue wear and strain by the forcible descent into it of the balls forcibly pocketed.

I am aware that it has been suggested to make pocket-holders wholly of hard rubber; also, to make them wholly of soft rubber, with a metal core extending from end to end; also, that it has been suggested to make a pocket for billiard-tables of leather, cloth, and analogous material; and I wish it to be understood that my claim of invention should not be confounded with any such things.

IVhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The combination, with the pocket-iron, of a rubber jacket or covering and a rubber reti- II. WV. GOLLENDER.

In presence of JACOB FELBEL, J. N. MOINTIRE. 

